380 ZOOLOGY. 



wings long ; tail short, truncate ; tarsi long, slender. Size large ; colors 

 plain. 



A sub-family containing about one hundred birds, distributed throughout 

 the world. They are usually seen walking over the surface of marshy 

 grounds in quest of small quadrupeds or reptiles, or standing in shallow 

 pools, quietly waiting the approach of fishes, which they capture by suddenly 

 darting upon them with their powerful bills. They build their nests in trees. 

 The purple heron, Ai-dea purpurea {pi. 93, fig. 5), is one of the European 

 species, as is also the pigmy heron, A. ralloides [pi. 93, fig. 12). The most 

 common American species is the great heron (A. herodias), which is one 

 of the largest wading birds of the United States. 



The egrets form a distinct genus, distinguished readily by their beautiful 

 snowy white plumage, of which the snowy heron of the United States, 

 Egretta candidissima {pi. 93, fig. 6), is an example. 



The bitterns, which belorg here, are noted for their loud and peculiar 

 ciies. The best known are the European bittern, Botaurus stellaris {pi. 94, 

 fig. 5), and the American species, B. minor. 



The spoonbills are also arranged here. They are large birds, with 

 i)eautiful rose colored and white plumage; and their name has been derived 

 from the singular form of the bill, which is expanded and flattened at the 

 end, somewhat resembling a spoon. The roseate spoonbill, Platalea leu- 

 corrhodia {pi. 93, fig. 4), is a native of Southern Europe and Africa. 



Sub-fam. 4. CiconincB, or Storks. Bill long, straight, rather thick, and 

 ,soiiiewhat conical; wings long and ample; tail moderate, broad; tarsi 

 lengthened ; feet moderate. Size large. 



A small group of about twenty birds which, with one exception, 

 reside only in the old world. In tropical countries, some of -the storks 

 frequent the vicinity of towns and villages, feeding on the ofTal cast into 

 the streets. They are, however, usually observed stalking about plains or 

 mnrshy districts in quest of reptiles or other small animals. The Bengal 

 adjutant {Ciconia argala) is protected by law in some of the cities of India, 

 in consideration of his services as a scavenger. 



The white stork of Europe, Ciconia alba {pi. 93, fig. 7), is a bird of 

 sociable and mild disposition, held in much popular respect on account of 

 its utility in destroying snakes and other animals usually considered noxious, 

 and is easily tamed. In Turkey and other eastern countries, it is con- 

 sidered a sacred bird, and its destruction is strictly prohibited. The stork 

 is known to have the singular habit of sleeping while standing on one leg, 

 holding the other draw^n up amongst the feathers of the abdomen, which is 

 also the habit of the American sand-hill crane. The great Audubon made 

 the curious discovery that the latter invariably rested on the same one, oi', 

 as he pleasantly expresses it, " has a favorite leg for resting upon." 



The black stork (C. nigra) is another European species. 



The only American species allied to the stork is the Mycteria arnericana, 

 found in South America. 



Sub-fam. 5. Tantalincc, or Ibises. Bill lengthened, slender, curved, com- 

 pressed ; wings rather long ; tail moderate ; tarsi usually rather long, 

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